Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most demanding titles in the benchmark database, and the combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile delivers a specific, measurable performance profile. The data shows a system that is capable of smooth flight at 1080p, but which requires careful settings management as resolution increases. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and presets, interprets the ranking against other tested combos, and explains the role of the GPU and CPU in shaping the experience.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and predictable scaling pattern as resolution increases from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 106 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low drops that average to 86 FPS, a reduction of 20 FPS. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 63 FPS. This progression shows that even at the lowest graphical preset, the rendering load increases significantly with pixel count, pulling the average down by roughly 20 FPS for each step up in resolution.

The pattern holds across all settings presets, but the magnitude of the drop varies. For High settings, the average FPS goes from 62 at 1080p, to 50 at 1440p, and down to 37 at 4K. The Medium preset shows a similar slope: 83 FPS at 1080p, 67 FPS at 1440p, and 49 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, starting at 59 FPS at 1080p, dropping to 48 FPS at 1440p, and reaching 35 FPS at 4K. The consistency of these drops—roughly 12-20 FPS per resolution step—indicates that both the CPU and GPU are being stressed, but the limiting factor shifts as resolution climbs.

At 1080p, the CPU's high single-thread performance is likely the primary driver, as the GPU has enough headroom to render frames quickly. The Ryzen 9 8945HX, with its Zen 4 architecture and boost clock of 5.40 GHz, can feed the GPU efficiently at lower resolutions. However, at 4K, the pixel throughput demands overwhelm the GPU, which has a boost clock of 1890 MHz and 8 GB of GDDR6 memory. The data suggests that the RTX 4060 Mobile becomes the bottleneck at 4K, as the average FPS at 4K Ultra (35) is barely half of the 1080p Low figure (106). This is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario where the CPU has spare capacity but the graphics processor cannot keep pace with the pixel fill rate required.

The gap between Low and Ultra settings also widens with resolution, which further confirms the GPU's growing role. At 1080p, the difference between Low (106 FPS) and Ultra (59 FPS) is 47 FPS. At 4K, the difference between Low (63 FPS) and Ultra (35 FPS) is 28 FPS. The smaller absolute gap at 4K suggests that the GPU is saturated even at Low settings, so the additional rendering work from Ultra settings has a diminished relative impact on frame rate. In practical terms, this combo is well-suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but 4K requires either Low or Medium settings to maintain playable frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested CPU and GPU combinations for Microsoft Flight Simulator, this pairing ranks 2268 out of 3714 combos. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which is notable given the hardware involved. The CPU itself is a high-end mobile part, scoring in the 95th percentile against all CPUs in the benchmark suite. The GPU, however, sits in the 67th percentile against all GPUs, which tempers the overall performance of the combo.

The ranking suggests that the RTX 4060 Mobile is the weaker link in this pairing for this specific game. The CPU's nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, with delta percentages of 0.1% and 0.6% respectively, meaning the Ryzen 9 8945HX is essentially on par with those top-tier desktop and mobile chips. However, the GPU's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and Intel Arc B580, with delta percentages of -0.7% and -1.3% respectively. This shows the RTX 4060 Mobile performs similarly to a last-generation desktop GPU, which is respectable but not flagship-level.

The combo's rank of 2268 out of 3714 indicates that many other pairings deliver higher frame rates in this game. This is likely because Microsoft Flight Simulator is heavily dependent on both CPU single-core performance and GPU rasterization power. While the Ryzen 9 8945HX provides excellent CPU performance, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus limit its ability to handle the high-resolution textures and complex geometry that this game demands. The data implies that a system with a slower CPU but a faster GPU would likely rank higher, as the GPU bottleneck at higher resolutions would be alleviated.

It is important to note that this ranking is specific to Microsoft Flight Simulator. The same combo might rank much higher in less GPU-intensive titles. But for this game, the measured FPS data and the combo's percentile position tell a consistent story: the CPU is a strong performer, while the GPU is adequate but not exceptional, resulting in a mid-pack overall ranking.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile plays a central role in determining the playability of Microsoft Flight Simulator at higher resolutions. The GPU features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 256.0 GB/s. This is a modest memory configuration for a game known for streaming large amounts of terrain and aircraft data. The memory clock is 2000 MHz, with an effective data rate of 16 Gbps. These specifications are sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but the 4K data suggests the GPU struggles to maintain high frame rates due to memory bandwidth limitations and raw compute throughput.

The GPU's compute capabilities are defined by its 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It has 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores, which support DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4. The FP32 performance is 11.61 TFLOPS, which is modest compared to desktop GPUs in the same performance tier. The boost clock of 1890 MHz is the maximum speed, and the base clock is 1545 MHz. The TDP is rated at 115 W, which is typical for a mobile GPU of this class, but it does limit sustained performance under heavy load.

In the measured FPS data, the GPU's role becomes apparent when comparing Low and Ultra settings at the same resolution. At 1080p, the GPU can handle the workload, as evidenced by the 106 FPS average at Low settings. But at 4K, the GPU is clearly the limiting factor. The 4K Ultra average of 35 FPS is below the threshold for smooth gameplay, and even 4K Low at 63 FPS is only marginally acceptable. The 4K Medium preset, which shows a min FPS of 42 and a max of 57, indicates that the GPU is hitting its ceiling, with frame times becoming inconsistent.

The GPU's 8 GB VRAM is likely a contributing factor to the performance drop at 4K. Microsoft Flight Simulator at 4K with High or Ultra textures can exceed 8 GB of VRAM usage, forcing the system to swap data to slower system memory. This would cause stuttering and frame rate dips, which are visible in the 4K Medium preset's min FPS of 42, compared to the average of 49. The data suggests that for stable 4K performance, users must stick to Low or Medium settings to keep VRAM usage within the 8 GB limit.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at how this combo performs across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the system is capable of high frame rates across all presets. The Low preset achieves an average of 106 FPS, which is excellent for a flight simulator. The Medium preset averages 83 FPS, with a min of 70 and a max of 95, indicating smooth performance with some minor dips. The High preset averages 62 FPS, which is still playable but shows a significant drop from Medium. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, which is the lowest at 1080p but still above the 60 FPS target for most users.

At 2560x1440, the performance decreases as expected. The Low preset averages 86 FPS, which is still very smooth. The Medium preset averages 67 FPS, with a min of 57 and a max of 77, showing that the system can maintain near-60 FPS with occasional dips below. The High preset averages 50 FPS, which is on the edge of playability for a flight simulator where smoothness is critical. The Ultra preset averages 48 FPS, which is below the ideal threshold and may result in noticeable stutters during complex scenes.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain high frame rates. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is acceptable but not ideal. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a min of 42 and a max of 57, indicating that the system is under significant load. The High preset averages 37 FPS, which is borderline unplayable for a game that requires precise control. The Ultra preset averages 35 FPS, which is the lowest measured value and will result in a poor experience.

The data shows a clear hierarchy: 1080p is the sweet spot for this combo, 1440p is usable with Medium or Low settings, and 4K is only viable with Low settings. The min FPS values for the Medium preset at each resolution (70 at 1080p, 57 at 1440p, 42 at 4K) highlight the increasing variance in frame times as resolution rises. This variance is typical of a GPU that is nearing its limit, as it struggles to maintain consistent output under peak load.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX and RTX 4060 Mobile combo in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

A: Based on the measured FPS, 1920x1080 is the best resolution. It achieves an average of 106 FPS on Low and 83 FPS on Medium, which provides smooth gameplay. 1440p is also viable with Medium settings (67 FPS), but 4K is only playable on Low (63 FPS).

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K on High settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 62 at 1080p to 37 at 4K, a reduction of 25 FPS. This represents a 40% decrease in performance, indicating a significant GPU bottleneck at higher resolutions.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a better experience than High at 1080p?

A: No. The Ultra preset averages 59 FPS, while High averages 62 FPS. The difference is only 3 FPS, which is within the margin of error. The data suggests that High is the better choice at 1080p, as it offers nearly identical performance with lower graphical overhead.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor for this combo in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor, especially at higher resolutions. The CPU ranks in the 95th percentile, while the GPU ranks in the 67th percentile. At 4K, the GPU's 8 GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus are insufficient for High or Ultra settings.

Q: Can this combo maintain 60 FPS at 1440p?

A: Only with Low settings, which averages 86 FPS. On Medium, the average is 67 FPS, but the min FPS is 57, so there will be dips below 60. High and Ultra presets both average below 60 FPS, so they are not recommended for a 60 FPS target.

Q: What does the combo's rank of 2268 out of 3714 mean for a user?

A: It means that many other CPU/GPU combinations deliver higher frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-tier status, despite the CPU's high performance. Users should expect playable but not exceptional performance compared to other tested systems.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides clear guidance for settings selection. For users with a 1080p monitor, the Medium preset is the best balance of visual quality and performance. It averages 83 FPS, with a min of 70 FPS, ensuring smooth gameplay even in complex scenes. The High preset is also acceptable at 62 FPS, but the drop from Medium is significant, and the visual improvement may not justify the 21 FPS loss. The Ultra preset at 59 FPS is not worth the performance cost, as it offers minimal visual gains over High.

For 1440p users, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It averages 67 FPS, which is smooth, but the min FPS of 57 indicates occasional dips below 60. The Low preset at 86 FPS is the safest option for a stable 60+ FPS experience, but it sacrifices visual fidelity. The High and Ultra presets, averaging 50 and 48 FPS respectively, are not recommended due to the risk of stuttering during flight maneuvers.

For 4K users, the options are limited. The Low preset averages 63 FPS, which is the only configuration that provides a playable experience. The Medium preset at 49 FPS is borderline, with a min of 42 FPS that will cause noticeable hitches. High and Ultra presets, at 37 and 35 FPS, are not viable for a game that demands precise control. The data suggests that 4K is not a practical resolution for this combo, and users should either lower their resolution or accept significant compromises in visual quality.

In summary, the sweet spot for this combo is 1080p with Medium settings, or 1440p with Low settings if a higher resolution is preferred. The GPU's limitations at 4K make that resolution unsuitable for anything beyond the Low preset. The CPU's high performance ensures that the system is never CPU-bound at these settings, so users can focus on GPU-related adjustments to achieve their desired frame rate.